Club legend Ossie Ardiles and young midfielder Harvey White yesterday visited Haringey Sixth Form College on White Hart Lane to open a new football pitch.
Following a ribbon-cutting to mark the pitch officially open, Harvey took the first kick of a mini-match between college students and Estudiantes FC, a local club which combines football and education to help young people in the borough progress to university.
During the event, Harvey also got involved in football drills with his fellow teenagers, while Ossie watched on and gave the group some words of advice.
The new pitch, made from 3G artificial turf, forms part of major renovation works taking place at the college over the summer period.
It will give all students additional opportunities to take part in regular sport and exercise, with the aim of improving physical and mental health. The college’s own football team, which competes in a local league, will also benefit from being able to train at the new facility.
Speaking at the event, Ossie said: “It is a privilege to be here opening this new football pitch just around the corner from our stadium.
“It makes me happy to know that it will help many local young people improve their football and lead healthy lives.”
Harvey added: “The students here are all my sort of age and I really enjoyed meeting them today – taking the first kick of the game was an added bonus!”
Russ Lawrance, Chief Executive at Haringey Sixth Form College, said: “New and upgraded facilities have a proven track record of increasing participation and performance, be that in education or in this case sport.
“At Haringey Sixth Form College, we have invested any surplus we have back into the student experience. We are committed to working to achieve the best possible experience for our students.”